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- [S331] England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, (ancestry.com).
In the name of God Amen the eighteenth day of May 1578 and in the twentieth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England, France, and Ireland Queen, defender of the faith. I Richard Smethwick Citizen and Draper of London being at this present sick in body nevertheless of good and perfect mind and remembrance. Thanks be therefore given to Almighty God, do for the quieting of mind in worldly things by me to be considered make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following:
That is to say, first and principally, I commend my soul unto Almighty God my maker, savior, and redeemer in whom and by the merits of whose blessed passion, I hope and trust assuredly to be saved and to have full and clear remission and forgiveness of my sins. I bequeath my body to the earth from whence it came to be buried at the discretion of my executor or executors hereunder named. That being performed and all the debts as I owe of right or in conscience to any person or persons being fairly ratified and paid I will that the surplus of all and singular my goods, chattels, leases, plate, credits, money, and debts in any wise to my belongings shall be divided in three equal parts and portions according to the laudable use and custom of the City of London whereof the only _ and equal third part according to the said custom I give and bequeath unto Johan my beloved wife to their own proper use; One other third part thereof I give and bequeath according to the said custom unto my children Katherine, Ursula, Anne, Helen, Richard, Henry, Thomas, John and Elizabeth equally to be divided them portion and portion like To be paid and delivered unto them when they have accomplished their full and lawful ages or else be married and each of them to be the others executors if death should happen in the mean time; And the other third part of my said goods and chattels I reserve to pay and perform third my legacies following; that is to say
First I give and bequeath toward the relief and comfort of the poor people of the parish of St. Dunstan's in the West in London twenty shillings to be paid unto them immediately after my decease;
Item - I give unto the wardens of the Company or Mystery of Drapers of the City of the City of London five pounds to make them and the rest of the assistants of the said Company a dinner;
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son John Smethwick all that my messuage and tenement with the appurtenances now in the tenure of John Phillips being nigh? the White Friars gate in London and all my interest in and of the same
Item - I give and bequeath unto my daughter Katherine Smethwick six silver spoons with knobs in the end of them and my wife's wedding ring of gold if Johan my said wife fortunes to decease out of this mortal world at any time within half a year next after my decease
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Richard my seal ring of gold
Item - I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ursula six silver spoons with knobs at the end of them and two rings of gold with two death heads on them
Item - I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anne one ring of gold set with a red stone in it
Item - I give unto Henry Webb citizen and merchant taylor of London my Kersey coat guarded with velvet
Item - I give and bequeath unto John Howl citizen and fletcher of London my grogram hose laid on with russet silk lace
Item - I give, will, and bequeath unto Robert Bryan citizen and merchant taylor of London one black gown laced with budge
Item - I give and bequeath unto the said Robert Bryan all such estate and interest as shall of right belong to unto me after the end of five years next ensuing the feast of the Annunciation? of our Lady last part of or in and tenement or house now in the tenure of the said Robert Bryan and Daniel Clark excepting and reserving my estate and interest of and in the moiety of the shop and that part of the cellar of the said tenement now or late in my tenure
Item - I give and bequeath unto the now beadle of Draper Hall my black cloak
Item - I give and bequeath unto my sister Joan Johnson my best black gown if my said wife fortunes to decease within one half year after my decease
Item - I give and bequeath unto Anne Rouse the wife of Thomas Rouse my wife's worst sheeped russet gown
Item - I give unto my sister Anne Gide my best sheeped russet gown furred with otter
Item - I give and bequeath unto all my ? six shillings eight pence apiece to be paid unto them within half a year after my decease and each of them a black mourning coat
Item - I give and bequeath unto my mother in law Johan Swallow my wife's best cloth? gown laid on with biliment lace if my said wife fortunes to die within one half year next after my decease
Item - I give and bequeath unto my said daughters Katherine and Ursula each of them a black gown
Item - my intent and meaning is that if the said Johan my wife fortunes to die before this my present last will and testament be proved in such form as is _ whereof I make her sole executrix Then I make and ordain Henry Elsing? baker and the said Henry Webb citizens of London executors of this my last will and testament And my will and meaning is that the said part and portion to her before bequeathed and the surplus of my said part _ or bequeathed shall remain and be unto and among my said children
Item - I give and bequeath unto the said Henry Elsing and Henry Webb ten shillings apiece
Item - I make and appoint Henry Robinson and the said John Howl as executors of this my last will and testament and I give them for their pains to be suffered in my behalf six shillings and eight pence apiece
In witness whereof to this present, I the said Richard Smethwick have set my hand and seal here? the day and year _ above written therein as the witnesses following _ Curate
- [S125] Ancestry.com.
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Abt 1540 - Aft 1578 (38 years)